Flexible clamp



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FLEXIBLE CLAMP Filed 0012.21, 1968 i HI .2 I. I -I iNVEN I ROBERT L w 3,530,550 FLEXIBLE CLAMP Robert L. White, 503 E. Harrison, Apt. 2, Springfield, Mo. 65806 Filed Oct. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 769,240 Int. Cl. A44b 21/00 US. Cl. 24-245 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A clamp composed of mating discs for engaging pliant sheet material, such as for fastening baby diapers without the use of pins or the like, and interengaging members provided on the discs for holding them together until released by pressure. An interconnecting flexible strap holds the discs together when they are not in clamping engagement.

The present invention relates to improvements in clamps and is concerned more particularly with clamps for engaging pliant sheet material such as textile material or the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple clamp without any moving or manipulatable ancillary operating parts and which is composed of opposed mating discs frictionally held together when in clamping position and readily released by finger pressure of the user.

In its more specific aspects, the clamp of the present invention provides for an annular clamping disc and an opposed annular receiving disc, the clamping disc having a central body portion for projection in the receiving disc, interengaging means carried by both discs for frictionally manipulating the discs in clamping position, and a central space in the receiving disc through which the users finger may be inserted for pressure against the central portion of the opposed disc for'release of the discs.

The invention further provides for, the use of a flexible strap or the like connected to the opposed discs to hold them together in readiness when required for clamping use.

A preferred use of the clamp of the-present invention is as a substitute for the conventional safety pin for fastening baby diapers in a rapid manner and for safety and comfort of the infant.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed explanation taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the principles of the invention has been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a clamp constructed in accordance with the invention and shown in released or non-clamping position; i 7

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the clamp shown in FIG. 1 taken on the line 22 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG; 1 but showing the discs in engaged clamping position; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating in broken lines material clamped between the discs.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, the clamp, indicated in its entirety at 10, is composed of an annular clamping disc 12 and an opposed annular receiving disc 14, preferably interconnected by a flexible strap or the like 16.

United States Patent ()flice 3,530,550 Patented Sept. 29, 1970 The disc 12, as shown in lowermost position in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a peripheral flange 18, a forwardly projecting central body portion 20 and disc interengaging means 22 extending outwardly of the body portion 20.

The disc 14, as shown in uppermost position in FIGS. 1 and 2, has an inner recessed shoulder 24 against which the peripheral flange 18 abuts for limiting the insertion of the disc 12 within the disc 14 and inwardly extending disc interengaging means 26 for retaining the interengaging means 22 after the respective means are pushed relatively inwardly past each other, for locking the discs in clamping position.

The disc interengaging means 22 carried by the body portion 20of the disc 12 may be in the form of radially projecting-wedge-like elements as illustrated in the drawings, in any desired number and arrangement, or if preferred, in the form of a continuous rib or flange.

The central aperature 28 opening through the disc 14 provides space for pressure of the finger of the user against the body portion 20 of the disc 12 to push the interengaging means 22 and 26 outwardly past each other to disengage the discs 12 and 14 for discard or further clamping purposes.

The device of the present invention including the discs 12 and 14 may be formed of any suitable material. Preferably, however, the device is integrally molded from a plastic material which is relatively rigid but which has, or at least the interengaging means 22 and 26, or either of them have, a degree of resiliency or compressible and expansible capacity to enable the degree of resiliency or compressible and expansible capacity to enable the flange 26 and the projections 22 to be thrust relatively past one another for clamping engagement and disengagement of the discs 12 and 14. In other words, the preferred material might be described as resilient form retaining plastic material. One example of such a material which has provided successful results is Eastman Chemical Polyethylene Formula 831A, but the invention, of course, is not to be restricted to this particular material.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not confined to the particular structure and arrangement of parts as herein illustrated and described but embraces all such modifications thereof as may come within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A clamp which comprises,

a clamping disc,

an opposed annular receiving disc,

the said discs being adapted to clamp material between them when the said clamping disc is inserted in said receiving disc,

the said clamping disc having a peripheral flange and a forwardly projecting central body member for insertion in said receiving disc,

the said receiving disc being centrally apertured for reception of said central body member and having an inner recessed shoulder for abutting said peripheral flange and limiting the insertion of said body member in said receiving disc,

interengaging means carried by said receiving disc and the body member portion of said clamping disc for holding said discs together in clamping position, said interengaging means comprising an inwardly extending substantially square cornered flange carried by the receiving disc and a plurality of circumferentially spaced wedge-shaped means extending radially outwardly of the body member-of the clamping disc for snapping interengagement with said flange for 4 releasably holding said disc together in clamping References Cited position with said material being clamped between UNITED STATES PATENTS said peripheral flange and said recessed shoulder. 2. The device of claim 1 additionally including, flggi g a flexible strap connecting the discs. M on 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the interengaging 5 317755o 4/1965 Borgeson' means carried by the discs is sufficiently resilient to en- FOREIGN PATENTS able the respective means to be thrust relatively past one another by compression and expansion. 203,770 6/1959 Ausma- 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the entire clamp is 512,523 9/ 1939 Great Brltamn l 11355;; ly molded from rest lent form retaining pas 1c DONALD A. GRIFFIN Primary Examiner 

